Reacquainted With Nashville
Phoenix slowly began to wake up. It was 5:30 in the morning when she finally woke up. Her eyes were puffy and red, her throat felt like she had swallowed a nail, and her sinuses were throbbing. She slowly stood up and walked into the bathroom. She turned on the sink and started to splash cold water on her face to ease herself and wash away the stress. She cleaned herself up and heard a knock at the door.
"Phoenix? Is everything ok?" asked Lara outside the door
"I'll be fine." Phoenix answered
She went to go pack her bags so she and the others could go to Darcy's house in Nashville. As she zipped her bag, Lara came over to her.
"Need help?" Her girlfriend asked
Phoenix shrugged. Lara picked up her bag and carried it out. Before leaving the room they checked to make sure that they hadn't left anything and they left the hotel towards the car. Darcy and Otis had their own car. Phoenix slipped into the backseat with Lara and they began driving off. No one said anything as they drove in silence and followed Darcy and Otis's car. Phoenix just leaned her elbow on the window and her chin in her hand as she watched the scenery pass by. Lara read a book next to her and Jonah was focused on driving. About one hour into the drive, Phoenix felt Lara's hand on her shoulder. She didn't resist as Lara pulled her close. Phoenix leaned against Lara's shoulder and closed her eyes. The adventurer didn't say anything and in a few minutes she went back to reading while keeping an arm around Phoenix.
Phoenix can't explain how, but for some reason this had helped. Being close with her girlfriend. Perhaps it was the reassurance that even though her father and stepmother are now completely cut out of her life, she had other people who would care for her. Who would love her.
Lara turned her head and glanced at Phoenix, but seeing as her eyes were closed, she thought she was asleep. She kissed Phoenix's forehead and went back to reading.
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After driving for nearly seven hours, they finally arrived at Darcy's house in Nashville.
"Phoenix, darling wake up I think we're here." Lara nudged Phoenix who opened her eyes.
The two of them alongside Jonah got out of the car, while Otis and Darcy got out of theirs. As soon as Phoenix stepped onto the driveway, a Siberian Husky appeared in the window of the house. As soon as it's eyes were on Phoenix it started getting excited. Phoenix's eyes lit up upon seeing the dog. It was Rowan, her Siberian Husky. After Bridget died, Phoenix did not want her father and stepmother to hurt her dog Rowan and her cat Smokey so she gave them to Darcy and her family to watch over.
Tom and his wife Rachel opened the front door to greet their daughter and her friends.
"Darcy, we're glad you made it home in one piece." Tom and his wife hugged their daughter
"Me too Mom." Darcy replied
Rachel turned toward Phoenix to hug her as well. "Phoenix, it's been three years. Tom and Darcy told me everything about the situation. I'm so glad you got out of that hellhole."
"It's good to see you Rachel," said Phoenix
"You must be Lara and Jonah." Rachel turned towards them. "Thank God you both got that girl out of there. I don't even want to imagine what would've happened if you weren't there."
"What they've done to her is despicable, I'm glad I was able to get her out of there." Lara replied.
Rowan pushed open the slightly ajar door and ran towards Phoenix and started licking her like crazy and tail wagging. He even began whimpering. Phoenix laughed happily reunited with her dog.
"Hi Rowan. I know I missed you too."
A gray furred cat came running towards Phoenix with a meow.
"Smokey!"
The cat came running into Phoenix's arms and started purring.
Everyone went inside the house. The gang told Tom and Rachel about the journey and they told them about how Phoenix's father and stepmother cut them off.
"Well good riddance," said Rachel
"Sounds like the trash took itself out," said Tom
"There is another thing." Phoenix took a deep breath and looked at Lara who then nodded.
"Lara and I are in a relationship." Phoenix told Tom and Rachel
Rachel looks at Lara "Is this true?"
"Yes, after what Phoenix had gone through she deserved better than what life has thrown at her. I love her and would do anything for her," said Lara
"As long as both of you are happy and are treating each other well, it's all that matters to me," said Tom
"I agree with my husband. Lara you're right, Phoenix deserves better. Tom and I view her as a second daughter. Take good care of her," said Rachel
"Bridget would be happy to know that her daughter is away from that bastard that dare calls himself a father and that she is happy and safe," said Tom
Phoenix smiled sadly at that statement. It's true her mother would've been relieved that Lara saved her from Ramona and Salem.
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The gang had decided to stay in Nashville to take a bit of a break before moving in on the next location of the next Fire Bird Feather Key. Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. Lara and Phoenix decided to make the most of the time off by going on their first date. The first part of their date consisted of cuddling on the bed of the guest bedroom Tom and Rachel let them use and watching Avatar (James Cameron's movie, not the Last Airbender to avoid any confusion) on Netflix. The last part they went to Phoenix's favorite restaurant in Nashville, the Hard Rock Cafe. After they finished their dinner and watched a live performance, Phoenix insisted on heading to a flower shop, because there was something that she needed to do. Something her father and stepmother won't let her.
Lara followed Phoenix into the cemetery, it was a silent trek. Phoenix stopped walking as soon as they reached a certain grave. Then Lara understood.
The grave had the name Bridget Star on it. It said: "Bridget Star: A loving mother. Born: January 6th 1978. Died: August 4th 2013." Phoenix placed the bouquet of flowers on the grave. Phoenix stared at the grave sadly in silence. After a few minutes of silence, Phoenix spoke.
"Hey Mom, it's been over three years hasn't it? I've been in Hell for three years and a few months ago upon my eighteenth birthday Dad and Stepmonster tried to force me to marry some stranger. If you were here today you would've rained Hell on them for that." Phoenix started as a tear rolled down her face
"Well I finally did it. I managed to escape from them. That escape would not have been possible and I wouldn't be standing here if it wasn't for the love of my life here with me tonight." Phoenix continued
Phoenix wrapped an arm around Lara's waist who wrapped her own arm around Phoenix's shoulder.
"This is Lara Croft. She's an archaeologist from England. She saved me from my Dad and Stepmonster as well as the creep they set me up with to marry."
"Hello, Mrs. Star. From what your daughter and her friends told me, you sounded like a better mother than Phoenix's so-called stepmother." Lara started
"Stepmonster." Phoenix corrected
"Stepmonster."
"I can't fault you for staying with an abuser for the first ten years of Phoenix's life. I know you did everything you can to protect Phoenix. The first opportunity for your daughter to escape from your ex-husband and his wife's clutches had been ripped from her and left you dead. I provided her with an opportunity to escape and she took it. I've seen the way that creep your ex-husband and wife picked for Phoenix to marry had treated her and it was despicable. Just yesterday, I saw a glimpse of what it was like for Phoenix to be with those horrid people. She called them yesterday to get them to leave her alone and instead of begging her to come back and apologizing they yell and berate her. I of course threw my two cents in and we both told them to leave her alone. Oh my God, after hearing the things they said to her. I'm glad I got her out of there. I promise I will watch over and protect her," said Lara
Phoenix wrapped her arms around Lara's neck and Lara wrapped her own around Phoenix's waist pulling her into an embrace with Phoenix burying her face into Lara's shoulder.
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The couple returned back to the house to turn in for the night. As soon as they walked in they walked past Otis who was asleep on the couch and Jonah who was sleeping on an air mattress. They saw Tom, who was wearing a bathrobe and slippers drinking a glass of water.
"How'd it go?" asked Tom
"It went great and we got to visit my Mom's grave." Phoenix answered
"It's probably been the first time you went since you last saw your father and stepmother," said Tom
"Actually it's been the first time I went back since the funeral. Dad and Stepmonster won't let me come back to even visit her grave." Phoenix answered
"I would not be surprised if he is petty enough to not let his daughter visit her mother's grave," said Lara
Tom stretched his arms and yawned "I'm going to bed."
"We're turning in for the night too."
Lara and Phoenix walked into the guest room where Rowan and Smokey are cuddling right next to each other in a dog bed near the dresser. The two of them changed into sleepwear and climbed into bed. Lara positioned herself behind Phoenix as the big spoon. Phoenix turned around and kissed Lara on the cheek before drifting off. Lara drifted off not long after.
It was still dark when Phoenix woke up. She looked at the clock on the nightstand, 3:00 a.m. Phoenix moved Lara's arm that was wrapped around her off of her. Lara in her sleep mumbled something in protest and tried pulling Phoenix back to her.
"I'll be back in a minute, I'm just going to get a drink of water." Phoenix chuckled and kissed Lara's forehead
She left the room to go to the kitchen to get a drink of water. When she finished her drink she heard Otis scream like a girl. Phoenix bolted into the living room and saw a freaked out Otis huddled in a corner rocking himself back and forth.
"Otis what is wr- WHAT IS THAT?!" Phoenix saw what Otis was freaking out about.
It was a brown recluse spider about the size of a quarter on the ground in front of him
"OH MY GOD IS THAT REAL!?"
Phoenix and Otis ran into the dining room and climbed on top of the table with the spider crawling after them and stopping in front of the table.
"LARA HELP!"
Lara came running into the dining room with a shotgun
"Phoenix what's wrong? Are you okay? I heard you scream."
Phoenix pointed to the ground in front of the table where the spider is.
Jonah, being the heavy sleeper he was, did not get woken up by the commotion until Lara burst in.
"What's going on?" Jonah groggily walked in
"A spider? Really?" said Lara in a somewhat amused tone
She could not believe that she held a spider at gunpoint. Lara went to go switch out her shotgun for some tongs and jar to catch the spider and take it outside.
Author's Note: Sorry for not paying attention to this story for bit. Although I have posted a version of it on Ao3. I've been having a bit of writers block trying to figure out what to make in this chapter.